Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGenital WartsGenital PimplesGenital Herpes SoresOther CausesWhen to Seek Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Genital Warts
Genital Pimples
Genital Herpes Sores
Other Causes
When to Seek Help
It’s quite common to notice small bumps in the genital area. Sometimes, they might even be filled withpus—just like pimples that can appear on your face. Lumps and bumps in the genital area can happen for various reasons.
This article examines the differences between genital warts, pimples, and herpes sores and their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Kamonwan Wankaew / EyeEm / Getty Images
What Are Genital Warts?
The contagious growths can come and go. In most cases, the growths are painless, but they can itch and bleed.
A Word From VerywellAny bumps or lesions in the genital area that are persistent or recurring should be evaluated. While there are a lot of benign causes, some will require treatment and can have long-term effects.—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Any bumps or lesions in the genital area that are persistent or recurring should be evaluated. While there are a lot of benign causes, some will require treatment and can have long-term effects.—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Any bumps or lesions in the genital area that are persistent or recurring should be evaluated. While there are a lot of benign causes, some will require treatment and can have long-term effects.
—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Symptoms
Genital warts are:
They can look a little bit like cauliflower. More often than not, they appear in clusters.
Causes
The HPV virus causes genital warts. It’s transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Penetrative sex is not necessary for transmission.
Prevention
Treatment
Genital warts may go away on their own (although you will still be living with HPV and can transmit it to sexual partners). For recurring or large warts, your healthcare provider may recommend:
Don’t try to remove genital warts on your own. It’s essential to see a healthcare provider for treatment if they’re bothering you.
What Are Genital Pimples?
Pimples can occur in the genital area, just like other places on the body. A pimple is a blocked pore associated with a hair follicle.If bacteria grow in a pimple, it may become raised and inflamed. It can form a cyst, a walled-off area of infection under the skin that can be painful and filled with pus. If they’re very painful and inflamed, you may have an infection that requires treatment.
Pimples on your genital area are a lot like pimples you get on your face or other places. Symptoms include:
If you have pimples that don’t go away, are very itchy and painful, or keep coming back, they may not be pimples at all.
Pimplescan pop up around the genitals for many reasons or seemingly no reason at all. Clogged pores can happen when you produce excess oil, or the area isn’t cleaned regularly. Ingrown hairs, like pimples, are common after shaving, plucking, or waxing.
An underlying medical condition calledhidradenitis suppurativaproduces painful pimple-like lumps that can turn into abscesses and leave scars. It affects areas with lots of sweat glands, including the groin and armpit,
Sometimes, pimples crop up randomly. But some things can make them more likely. To prevent pimples and ingrown hairs from forming and keep genital skin healthy, it’s important to:
Most pimples will go away on their own in a few days. Applying a warm compress may sometimes encourage the pimple to break open and start healing more quickly.
Before applying any topical creams like those containing tea tree oil or salicylic acid around your genital area, make sure to read the instructions carefully. Ideally, you should choose a product specifically formulated for the genital region.
If you are wondering if a specific product is OK to use for a vaginal pimple, don’t hesitate to ask a pharmacist or a healthcare provider.
In some cases,ingrown hairscan cause the formation of a cyst. Ingrown hairs occur when a hair grows into the skin rather than out of the pore. This can cause a red, raised, painful bump that may contain pus and look like an inflamed pimple.
What Is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpesis a viral sexually transmitted infection that causes painful blisters in the genital area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half a million people between 14 to 49 were newly infected with genital herpes in 2018.
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) causes what is known most commonly as oral herpes. HSV-2 causes genital herpes. However, HSV-1 lesions can appear on the genitals after receiving oral sex.
The only way to completely avoid the risk of getting an STI is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, the following can reduce the risk of getting genital herpes.
Use a condomthe right wayduring penetrative sex or adental damduring oral sex. Use barrier protection every time you have sex. You can transmit the virus to sexual partners even if you have no active symptoms during sexual contact.
The partner with herpes can take antiviral medications to suppress the virus and help prevent transmission.
If you have herpes, it’s important to discuss this with current partners so that you can make informed decisions about how to proceed with sexual encounters and reduce risk.
If you are diagnosed with herpes, it is important to notify your past sexual partners so they can be evaluated and help prevent transmitting herpes to others.
There’s no cure for this condition. However, certain anti-viral medications can help reduce your risk of transmitting the infection to someone else. Medications can also help reduce the length of outbreaks.While treatment won’t cure genital herpes, it can prevent painful flare-ups of symptoms.
Other Causes of Genital Bumps and Sores
Other reasons for bumps and sores around the genital area may include the following:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should see a healthcare provider for genital bumps and sores if:
Summary
Genital bumps are common, and while most aren’t anything to worry about, some genital lumps and bumps may require treatment. They can be a pimple, ingrown hair, genital warts, or genital herpes sores.
Some bumpy genital conditions are also contagious. If you think you have an STI, getting a diagnosis is crucial to avoid transmitting them to sexual partners.
Talk to a healthcare provider about any genital bump or sore that concerns you. Some conditions, like genital herpes and genital warts, aren’t curable, but they can provide medications to manage them. And if you have a bump-causing STI, learn about adequate protection to prevent transmitting it to someone else.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital HPV infection.Sutter Health.Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts.Planned Parenthood.What’s that bump!?Planned Parenthood.Genital warts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.Planned Parenthood.How do I get treated for genital warts?MedlinePlus.Acne.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.DeMaria AL, Flores M, Hirth JM, Berenson AB.Complications related to pubic hair removal.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(6):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.036Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Vulvar skin care guidelines.Sutter Health.Genital bumps & lumps: when to seek medical attention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.What does genital herpes look like?Sutter Health.Genital herpes.Johnston C, Magaret A, Son H, et al.Viral shedding 1 year following first-episode genital hsv-1 infection.JAMA. 2022;328(17):1730-1739. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19061Cleveland Clinic.Genital herpes.Gavrilov SG.Vulvar varicosities: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:463-475. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S126165Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital HPV infection.Sutter Health.Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts.Planned Parenthood.What’s that bump!?Planned Parenthood.Genital warts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.Planned Parenthood.How do I get treated for genital warts?MedlinePlus.Acne.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.DeMaria AL, Flores M, Hirth JM, Berenson AB.Complications related to pubic hair removal.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(6):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.036Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Vulvar skin care guidelines.Sutter Health.Genital bumps & lumps: when to seek medical attention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.What does genital herpes look like?Sutter Health.Genital herpes.Johnston C, Magaret A, Son H, et al.Viral shedding 1 year following first-episode genital hsv-1 infection.JAMA. 2022;328(17):1730-1739. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19061Cleveland Clinic.Genital herpes.Gavrilov SG.Vulvar varicosities: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:463-475. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S126165Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital HPV infection.Sutter Health.Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts.Planned Parenthood.What’s that bump!?Planned Parenthood.Genital warts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.Planned Parenthood.How do I get treated for genital warts?MedlinePlus.Acne.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.DeMaria AL, Flores M, Hirth JM, Berenson AB.Complications related to pubic hair removal.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(6):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.036Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Vulvar skin care guidelines.Sutter Health.Genital bumps & lumps: when to seek medical attention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.What does genital herpes look like?Sutter Health.Genital herpes.Johnston C, Magaret A, Son H, et al.Viral shedding 1 year following first-episode genital hsv-1 infection.JAMA. 2022;328(17):1730-1739. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19061Cleveland Clinic.Genital herpes.Gavrilov SG.Vulvar varicosities: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:463-475. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S126165Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital HPV infection.
Sutter Health.Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts.
Planned Parenthood.What’s that bump!?
Planned Parenthood.Genital warts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Anogenital warts.
Planned Parenthood.How do I get treated for genital warts?
MedlinePlus.Acne.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.
DeMaria AL, Flores M, Hirth JM, Berenson AB.Complications related to pubic hair removal.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(6):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.036
Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Vulvar skin care guidelines.
Sutter Health.Genital bumps & lumps: when to seek medical attention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Planned Parenthood.What does genital herpes look like?
Sutter Health.Genital herpes.
Johnston C, Magaret A, Son H, et al.Viral shedding 1 year following first-episode genital hsv-1 infection.JAMA. 2022;328(17):1730-1739. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.19061
Cleveland Clinic.Genital herpes.
Gavrilov SG.Vulvar varicosities: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:463-475. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S126165
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
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